Category: NFL

Cleveland Browns (4-8) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) NFL Betting Preview

The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers have always been bitter rivals. The two teams have gone in different directions over the last few years, and the Steelers have dominated this matchup in the past decade.

Pittsburgh must continue to win to try to keep pace with the Ravens.

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Time/Date: 8:25 PM EST, December 8, 2011
Venue: Heinz Field
Broadcast: NFL Network
Browns vs. Steelers Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Steelers -13.5
Moneyline: Steelers (-790) Browns (+610)
Over/Under: 39.5

The Browns would love nothing more than to spoil the Steelers chance at the AFC North title. These two square off Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Cleveland’s offense has struggled all year long. Colt McCoy is progressing at the quarterback spot, but the rest of the offense just isn’t very good. Peyton Hillis was the breakout star for this unit last year, but he has been a major disappointment this season. Hillis has only played in half of the teams games, and he is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. McCoy really doesn’t have any go to receiver on the outside. The Browns average just 14.6 points per game.

Cleveland has been competitive this year thanks to a solid defense. The Browns secondary has been stellar. Joe Haden has quickly become one of the best cover corners in the entire league. Cleveland ranks first in the NFL in pass defense. The Browns haven’t been nearly as good against the run. In fact, opponents have been gashing the Browns for 151.2 yards per game on the ground. The biggest problem this unit has had has been getting off the field on third down. Opponents are converting 40.4% of their third-down conversion attempts. Phil Taylor has been a bright spot on the front line of this defense. The Browns allow 20 points per game. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Ben Roethlisberger has definitely found a major weapon on the outside in Mike Wallace. Wallace is averaging 16.8 yards per reception so far this season. The Steelers have four receivers with at least 36 catches in 2011. Big Ben is completing 64% of his passing attempts, and he has 19 touchdown passes. Rashard Mendenhall isn’t putting up the huge numbers he did last season, but he continues to perform at a solid clip. The Steelers offensive line has been better the last few games, and that is very important to this team’s long-term success.

This defense is arguably the best in all of football. Pittsburgh ranks first in the NFL in total yards allowed. There really isn’t a true weakness in this defense. The linebackers are absolutely the best in the league. James Harrison, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley, and Lawrence Timmons are all capable of taking over the game at any point. Brett Keisel has really stepped up his game, and he is a real force on the defensive line. Troy Polamalu is probably the most valuable player to this defense. Polamalu is simply all over the field, and his leadership is vital to this team’s success.

The Browns will fight hard here, but I don’t expect that to be enough. Pittsburgh is just a much better football team. Look for the Steelers to cover in this one.

Free NFL Pick: Steelers -13.5

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Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) NFL Betting Preview

Everyone expected the Steelers to be right in the thick of the AFC playoff race, but no one expected the Bengals to be there. Cincinnati just continues to defy the odds and stay in the race.

Pittsburgh won a hard fought contest in Cincinnati a couple weeks ago. Can Cincinnati pick up a huge win on the road, or will the Steelers hold serve at home?

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Cincinnati Bengals (7-4) vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)
Time/Date: 1:00 PM EST, December 4, 2011
Venue: Heinz Field
Broadcast: CBS
Bengals vs. Steelers Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Steelers -6.5
Moneyline: Steelers (-275) Bengals (+235)
Over/Under: 42.5

Andy Dalton deserves some serious consideration for rookie of the year this year. Dalton come into a very difficult situation and he has performed as well as anyone could have possibly expected and more. Dalton has already thrown for 2,509 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.

A.J. Green is his top target on the outside, and Jermaine Gresham has become a favorite target over the middle. Green still isn’t 100% from a recent knee injury, but he is expected to play Sunday. The Bengals offense is at its best when Cedric Benson is running the ball well. Cincinnati averages 23.5 points per game.

The Bengals defense is the primary reason this team sits at 7-4 right now. Through the first few games of the season, the Bengals were the top ranked defense in the NFL. The defense has taken a hit due to major injuries over the last few weeks. Leon Hall, the team’s best cover corner, is out for the season.

Keith Rivers, a starting outside linebacker, is now also out for the season. The pass rush must get after Big Ben this week to take some pressure off the inexperienced secondary. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Ben Roethlisberger isn’t having his best season statistically, but he has been getting the job done for this Steelers offense.

Mike Wallace has emerged as one of the top deep threats in the league. Wallace averages 17.1 yards per reception so far this season. The offensive line started the season out very poorly, but they have improved over the last few games. Rashard Mendenhall is a workhorse in the backfield for Pittsburgh. The Steelers rank tenth in the NFL in total offense, but they are 19^th in points per game.

This is an offense that has turned the ball over too many times this year, and that is something they must work on as the regular season winds down.

The Steelers defense got a big scare when Troy Polamalu went down with a concussion last weekend in Kansas City. Polamalu is feeling better, and he is listed as probable for this game. As has been the case for the last few years, this unit is one of the best in the NFL. It’s tough for opponents to matchup with the front seven that Pittsburgh puts on the field.

James Harrison, Lamarr Woodley, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons are the best group of linebackers in football. This defense ranks in the top six of the NFL in every major defensive category.

The Bengals are no slouch this year, but the recent defensive injuries will make it difficult for them to keep up with the Steelers in this one. Look for the Steelers to cover the spread here.

Free NFL Pick: Steelers -6.5

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Baltimore Ravens (8-3) vs Cleveland Browns (4-7) NFL Betting Preview

It has been quite a while since Art Modell took the Browns to Baltimore, but Cleveland still hates the Baltimore Ravens. This was a rivalry from the day Cleveland got a pro football team once again.

The Ravens are 8-3 this year, but all three of their losses have come as at least 5.5 point favorites. Can they avoid a letdown against the Browns this weekend?

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Ravens vs. Browns
Time/Date: 4:05 PM EST, December 4, 2011
Venue: Cleveland Browns Stadium
Broadcast: CBS
Ravens vs. Browns Gambling Odds from Bookmaker
Spread: Ravens -6.5
Moneyline: Ravens (-275) Browns (+235)
Over/Under: 38.5

Baltimore has an impressive list of teams they have beaten so far this year. The Ravens have taken down the Steelers twice, the 49ers, the Jets, the Texans, and the Bengals. It has been the Jaguars, Titans, and Seahawks who have beaten the Ravens. Baltimore has showed up for all of their big games, but they have consistently played down to their level of competition this year and it has caught up with them a few times.

Joe Flacco has had some great moments this year, but he has been pretty inconsistent at the quarterback spot. Ray Rice leads the team in both rushing yards and receptions. Rice is one of the most versatile players in the league, and the Ravens need to get him the ball more often. The Ravens offense averages 24.7 points per game.

Baltimore’s defense has been stellar this season. Ray Lewis has missed the last couple games with a toe injury, and he is listed as questionable for this one. Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs have been excellent for this unit. Ed Reed may have lost a step, but he is still a great safety. Baltimore’s defense has flourished at forcing turnovers this year. Opponents are scoring just 16.5 points per game on this defense. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Cleveland has struggled in a big way on offense this year. This team is simply lacking play makers on this side of the ball. Colt McCoy has improved in his second season under center for the team, but he doesn’t have enough play makers around him. Peyton Hillis is healthy again, and it should certainly help to have him back in the lineup.

The Browns lack a consistent wide receiver, and this unit has had far too many drops this year. The team has tried to work Josh Cribbs into the offense a little bit, but that has largely been unsuccessful. The Browns are averaging only 15 points per contest.

As bad as the Cleveland offense has been, the defense has done a lot of good things this year. This is a terrific young secondary. In fact, the Browns rank first in the NFL in pass defense. Joe Haden is already a star in only his second year in the league. Phil Taylor has provided a nice boost on the defensive line. Injuries have really slowed the linebacker group, and that has allowed opponents to run the ball quite well against this defense. Cleveland ranks sixth in the NFL in total defense.

Baltimore realizes that they can’t afford another letdown, and I don’t think it will happen against a rival like the Browns. Baltimore is better on both sides of the ball. Look for Ray Rice to have a big game here.

Free NFL Pick: Ravens -6.5

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